Non-fixing type image forming method and non-fixing type image forming apparatus

Abstract

In the non-fixing type image forming method and apparatus which allow chargeable toner T to removably adhere to recessed portions R of an image receiving sheet S having an uneven surface s2' formed with a lot of the recessed portions R capable of housing the chargeable toner by an electrostatic force to form a toner image and allows protrusions P of the uneven surface s2' to protect the toner T adhering to the recessed portions R, after the toner image is formed on the image receiving sheet S, an amount of electric charges of the toner T on the image receiving sheet is reduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet comprising the steps of: 
       allowing a chargeable toner to removably adhere to a recessed portions on an uneven surface of the image receiving sheet by means of an electrostatic force to form the toner image, said image receiving sheet have the uneven surface formed with a lot of recessed portions capable of housing chargeable toner as the image receiving sheet, and  
       reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet after forming the toner image on the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       2. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet protect the toner adhering to the recessed portions.  
     
     
       3. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet includes a reducing a surface potential of the image receiving sheet to not more than 100 V with absolute value after forming the toner image on the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       4. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet includes a reducing a surface potential of the image receiving sheet to not more than 20 V with absolute value after forming the toner image on the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       5. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet is a charging the image receiving sheet or the toner with charge having opposite polarity to an electrifying polarity of the chargeable toner.  
     
     
       6. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
       removing the toner adhering to top portions of protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet after forming the toner image on the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       7. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 6 , 
       wherein the reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet is performed before the removing the toner adhering to top portions of protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       8. A non-fixing type image forming method of forming a toner image on an image receiving sheet according to  claim 6 , 
       wherein the reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet is performed after the removing the toner adhering to top portions of protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       9. A recycling method of a image receiving sheet formed a non-fixing type toner image comprising the steps of: 
       allowing a chargeable toner to removably adhere to a recessed portions on an uneven surface of the image receiving sheet by means of an electrostatic force to form the toner image, said image receiving sheet have the uneven surface formed with a lot of recessed portions capable of housing chargeable toner as the image receiving sheet;  
       reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet after forming the toner image on the image receiving sheet, and  
       removing the chargeable toner from the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       10. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus comprising: 
       toner image former for allowing chargeable toner to removably adhere to recessed portions of an image receiving sheet having an uneven surface formed with a lot of recessed portions capable of housing the chargeable toner by means of an electrostatic force to form the toner image on the image receiving sheet, and  
       electric charge reducing device for reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet after forming the toner image, said electric charge reducing device is provided on a downstream side in an image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to a toner image forming area on the image receiving sheet by the toner image former.  
     
     
       11. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10  further comprising: 
       toner removal device for removing the toner adhering to top portions of protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet, said toner removal device is provided on the downstream side in the image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to the toner image forming area on the image receiving sheet by the toner image former,  
       wherein the electric charge reducing device is provided on the downstream side in the image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to the toner image forming area and on an upstream side with respect to the toner removal device.  
     
     
       12. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10  further comprising: 
       toner removal device for removing the toner adhering to top portions of protrusions on the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet, said toner removal device is provided on the downstream side in the image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to the toner image forming area on the image receiving sheet by the toner image former,  
       wherein the electric charge reducing device is provided on a downstream side in the image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to the toner removal device.  
     
     
       13. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein the electric charge reducing device reduces an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet by charging the image receiving sheet or the toner with charge having opposite polarity to an electrifying polarity of the chargeable toner.  
     
     
       14. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet is performed by the electric charge reducing device not contacting with the image receiving sheet and the toner.  
     
     
       15. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , 
       wherein the electric charge reducing device strews ion by means of ion flow.  
     
     
       16. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , 
       wherein the electric charge reducing device electrifies the image receiving sheet or the toner by an electrifying charger.  
     
     
       17. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein reducing an amount of electric charges of the toner on the image receiving sheet is performed by a conductor contacting with the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       18. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein the electric charge reducing device reduces a surface potential of the image receiving sheet where the toner image has been formed to not more than 100 V with absolute value.  
     
     
       19. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein the electric charge reducing device reduces the surface potential of the image receiving sheet where the toner image has been formed to not more than 20 V with absolute value.  
     
     
       20. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 10  further comprising: 
       recycling device for removing the chargeable toner from the image receiving sheet.  
     
     
       21. A non-fixing type image forming apparatus according to  claim 20 , 
       wherein the recycling device is provided on the upstream side in the image receiving sheet carrying direction with respect to the toner image forming area.